Worthing’s Christmas pudding race proves a fruitful fundraiser

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Published:15:30Thursday 05 December 2013

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SCORES of competitors threw themselves around an inflatable assault course armed with plates of Christmas pudding at an event in the town centre on Saturday.

The festive fundraiser was Guild Care’s first Christmas Pudding Race, held to raise money for a new dementia centre and care home for local people.

Winners of the first Guild Care Christmas Pudding Race Jacobs Steel

Teams of elves, snowmen, fairies and human Christmas puddings went head to head to be the fastest around the course.

Worthing Mayor Bob Smytherman, dressed in red corduroy trousers and a shocking-pink curly wig, put in a brave effort, but could not prevent his team from being soundly beaten.

Speaking after the race, a puffed-out Mr Smytherman said: “It’s absolutely great to be here raising money for Guild Care in their 80th anniversary year.

“It’s just an absolute privilege to be a part of it. As you can tell I’m a little bit out of breath but it’s been worth every bit.

“It’s been absolutely amazing. We’re probably not going to win, but we’re having great fun doing it.”

At one stage it looked as if the pudding race might be over when, like the Mayor, the bouncy castles began to run out of puff.

But after a bit of tinkering with a blown fuse, the show was soon back on the road.

Guild Care’s Rachael Duke said: “We are delighted so many teams have come out in support of us today and we would like to say a particular thank you to ETI, Southern Water and Elior for their sponsorship today.

Rachael revealed on Monday that the event had raised more than £4,000.

“It’s fantastic that Worthing’s first Christmas pudding race has raised over £4,000 to support local people with dementia. Every penny of sponsorship will go towards our Building a Home to Remember project.”

“We want to make this an annual event,” added Rachael.

Overall winners were Jacobs Steel’s Santa’s Little Helpers, who completed the course in 2min 30sec, and best dressed team was the council’s Environmental Health Department, The Hot Mince Spies.

Myles Gibson of ETI’s Therma Puddings was both the fastest individual, finishing in 21.21 seconds, and the winner of the two-pudding challenge, completing the course holding a pudding in each hand in 22.13 seconds.